A new summer day camp for tweens and teens ages 10-14 will be offered as part of the Sea Explorers Marine Camp. The marine biology camp in Babylon offers all of the popular activities that are featured at the camp’s regular sessions, including voyages on the Yankee III and a trip to Atlantis Marine World Aquarium in Riverhead.

The Lerner Children’s Pavilion is a pediatric orthopedic hospital within The Hospital for Special Surgery, the No. 1 hospital for orthopedics in the country. The family-friendly hospital on the Upper East Side features private patient rooms with in-room family accommodations; safe play areas for patients and their siblings; and a nature-influenced design.

Camp Extreme, a new summer camp offers BMX bike, BMX dirt trail riding, skateboard, and surf lessons for children on Long Island. The extreme sports summer camp is designed so all campers learn and progress together.

Gravity Cheer now offers three- and five-day camp sessions for its summer camp. Campers in both sessions will learn a cheer routine, tumbling, and stunts and participate in an obstacle course. The camp also offers extended hour care before and after camp, as well as a sibling discount.

A Long Island family opens up their home each summer to host a Fresh Air child through The Fresh Air Fund, a nonprofit that provides free summer experiences to more than 1.7 million NYC children from low-income communities.

Children’s health care provider, PM Pediatrics, now has a location in North Babylon. The facility uses equipment and medical supplies that are designed for children of all ages and sizes and is open 365 days a year. The pediatric medical center in North Babylon treats an array of illnesses and injuries in a kid-friendly facility.

A couple on Long Island volunteers to teach children with autism how to surf through Surfers Healing, a daylong surfing camp for children with autism that was founded by former competitive surfer Israel "Izzy" Paskowitz and his wife Danielle.

The Cleary School for the Deaf started the school year by introducing a new transitional program to prepare students for life after graduation, including writing a resume and applying for a job. The school also appointed a new lead teacher for its Autism Resource Room, which helps deaf students who are on the autism spectrum.

New York State ranks near the bottom of the list when it comes to student participation in the School Breakfast Program, but we are making progress thanks to efforts in Brentwood, Long Island as well as Syracuse City Schools.

Hauppauge-based ice rink, The Rinx, is now offering its Total Skating and Total Hockey programs at the Town of Oyster Bay Skating Center in Bethpage. The programs help kids develop their skating and/or hockey skills.

M.A.T.S.S. Kids' Gym & Early Childcare Education Program collected children's pajamas in Syosset and Bellmore on Long Island to help bring new pajamas to kids in need through the L.I. Pajama Program, a local nonprofit.

Two young Long Islanders of Nassau County will head to Washington, D.C. to join nominees for America's top youth volunteers of 2013. The two have been awarded the Prudential Spirit of Community Award for their dedication to volunteering in the Long Island community.

First Step, a program of the Junior League of Long Island, helps women in need with career training and complimentary business outfits for job interviews to help them transition back into the workforce.

The "most affordable" summer camp program on Long Island has plans to open two new locations—Farmingdale and West Islip—in time for camp this summer. Hosted at St. Killian School and Our Lady of Lourdes School, Camps 'R' Us is fully equipped with opportunities for indoor and outdoor activities.

The Kohl's Cares Scholarship program will honor more than 2,300 youth, ages 6-18, who have made a positive impact on their communities with more than $425,000 in scholarships and prizes. Nominations for outstanding young volunteers are being accepted Feb. 1 - March 15.

FUN GUIDES

About Us

NYMetroParents is the parenting division of Davler Media Group and encompasses 9 regional print magazines within the greater NY metro region as well as the website (nymetroparents.com). Following the success of the first NYC parenting resource book, "Big Apple Baby," BIG APPLE PARENT was launched in 1985; it is now the largest publisher of regional parenting content in the United States.